What does each club give for Height at the withers in the Belgian Shepherd?

FCI, Male: 60–66 cm; AKC, Male: 61–66 cm; UKC, Male: 58.4–67.3 cm; KC, Male: 61–66 cm; CKC, Male: 61–66 cm; FCI, Female: 56–62 cm; AKC, Female: 55.9–61 cm; UKC, Female: 53.3–62.2 cm; KC, Female: 56–61 cm; CKC, Female: 56–61 cm.

Belgian Shepherd breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.

Size

Size
Measure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Height at the withers, male	60–66 cm	61–66 cmunder 57.2 cmDisqualifyingover 69.9 cmDisqualifying	58.4–67.3 cmunder 58.4 cmDisqualifyingover 67.3 cmDisqualifying	61–66 cm	61–66 cmunder 58.5 cmDisqualifyingover 68.5 cmDisqualifying
Height at the withers, female	56–62 cm	55.9–61 cmunder 52.1 cmDisqualifyingover 64.8 cmDisqualifying	53.3–62.2 cmunder 53.3 cmDisqualifyingover 62.2 cmDisqualifying	56–61 cm	56–61 cmunder 53.3 cmDisqualifyingover 63.5 cmDisqualifying
Weight, male	25–30 kg	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Weight, female	20–25 kg	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Height to length	1	1	1	1	1
Skull to muzzle	1	1	1	1	No ruling
Shoulder angle	110–115°	90°	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Conformation

Conformation
Form	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
StopModerate	Standard (“Stop: Moderate.”)	Standard (“Stop moderate.”)	Standard (“STOP Moderate.”)	Standard (“Moderate stop”)	No ruling
BiteScissors bite	Standard (“Scissor bite; pincer bite ... is tolerated.”)	Alternate (“Should have either an even bite or a scissors bite.”)	Standard (“forty-two strong, white teeth that meet in scissors bite”)	Standard (“Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth”)	Alternate (“even or a scissors bite”)
BiteLevel bite	Alternate (“pincer bite ... is tolerated”)	Alternate (“Should have either an even bite or a scissors bite.”)	Alternate (“A level meeting of the incisors is acceptable.”)	Alternate (“Pincer [level] bite tolerated.”)	Alternate (“even or a scissors bite”)
BiteUndershot	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot bite such that contact with two incisors is lost.”)	No ruling	Fault (“An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault.”)
BiteOvershot	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot bite such that contact with two incisors is lost.”)	No ruling	Fault (“An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault.”)
DentitionFull dentition	Standard (“Complete dentition according to the dental formula”)	Standard (“A full complement of strong, white teeth”)	Standard (“furnished with forty-two strong, white teeth”)	No ruling	No ruling
DentitionMissing teeth	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Fault: Absence of premolar(s) or molar(s)”)	No ruling	No ruling
Ear carriageErect (prick)	Standard (“stiff, carried upright and vertical when dog is alert”)	Standard (“Ears triangular in shape, stiff, erect”)	Standard (“triangular, carried well-pricked”)	Standard (“stiff and erect, set high and carried upright and vertical”)	No ruling
Ear carriageDrop (pendant)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Ears hanging (as on a hound) shall disqualify.”)	Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Drooping or hanging ears.”)	No ruling	No ruling
Ear setHigh	Standard (“Rather small, set high”)	No ruling	Standard (“High set, triangular”)	Standard (“stiff and erect, set high”)	No ruling
Eye shapeAlmond	Standard (“slightly almond-shaped, obliquely set”)	Standard (“Medium size, slightly almond shaped, not protruding.”)	Standard (“Almond in shape, obliquely set”)	Standard (“slightly almond shaped and obliquely set”)	No ruling
Eye shapeRound	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Fault: Very light or round eyes.”)	No ruling	No ruling
ToplineLevel	Standard (“Topline: upper line of back and loins is straight.”)	Standard (“the back, which must be level, straight, and firm from withers to hip joints”)	Standard (“The back and lumbar/loin region are straight”)	Standard (“upper line of body straight, firm and well-muscled”)	Standard (“Back is level, straight and firm from withers to hip”)
Tail carriageLow (hanging)	Standard (“at rest carried down, with tip curved backwards at level of hock”)	Standard (“At rest the dog holds it low, the tip bent back level with the hock”)	No ruling	Standard (“When at rest, hangs down, with tip slightly bent backwards”)	No ruling
Tail lengthMedium	Standard (“of medium length, reaching at least to hock”)	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“strong at base, of medium length”)	No ruling
Tuck-upModerate	Standard (“neither drooping nor tucked up, but slightly raised and moderately developed”)	Standard (“Moderate development. Neither tucked up nor paunchy.”)	Standard (“Moderately developed, neither hanging (paunchy) nor tucked up.”)	Standard (“moderately developed neither drooping nor unduly cut up”)	No ruling
FeetCat foot	Standard (“Forefeet: Round, cat feet”)	Standard (“Feet round (cat footed)”)	No ruling	Standard (“Forefeet round and cat-like.”)	No ruling
DewlapNone (clean throat)	Standard (“without dewlap, nape slightly arched”)	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“well-muscled and without dewlap”)	No ruling
Muzzle shapeTapered	Standard (“narrowing gradually toward the nose, like an elongated wedge”)	No ruling	Standard (“narrowing gradually toward the nose”)	Standard (“Muzzle tapering gradually to the nose but not snipy”)	No ruling
HocksWell let down	Standard (“Hock: Close to the ground”)	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“hocks well let down”)	No ruling
Neck lengthMedium	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Neck of moderate length, slightly arched”)	No ruling
ChestDeep	No ruling	Standard (“Chest not broad, but deep.”)	Standard (“Not too broad, but in compensation, deep and inclined.”)	Standard (“Chest deep and well let down to point of elbow”)	No ruling

Markings

Markings
Marking	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Mask	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Black mask on face not extending above the eye and brow area”)	No ruling
Chest patch	Alternate (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)	Alternate (“Small to moderate patch or strip on forechest.”)	Alternate (“black with a small to moderate white patch on the chest”)	Alternate (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)	No ruling
Socks	Alternate (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)	No ruling	Alternate (“the tips of the toes may be white”)	Alternate (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)	No ruling

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
Procedure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Tail docking	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Cropped or stump tail shall disqualify.”)	Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Absence of or docked tail.”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Tail docked or stump”)
Dewclaw removal	No ruling	Standard (“Dewclaws, if any, should be removed.”)	Alternate (“Removal of rear dewclaws is preferred but not mandatory.”)	No ruling	Alternate (“Dewclaws, if any, may be removed”)

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

Belgian Shepherd colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Belgian Shepherd color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Belgian Shepherd in Black, White and Red. Standard patterns: Solid and Bicolour.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“only uniform black”)	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“the long-haired black”)	Standard (“Groenendael - Black”)	Standard (“only uniform black”)
White	Standard (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)	Standard (“Black & White”)	Standard (“black with a small to moderate white patch on the chest”)	Standard (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)	Standard (“a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes”)
Red	Fault (“reddish tinges in the coat”)	Standard (“reddening due to climatic conditions ... should not be grounds for disqualification”)	Fault (“dominant red tinge”)	Not recognised	Fault (“reddish tinges in the coat”)
Grey	Fault (“grey breeches”)	Disqualifying (“Gray”)	Not recognised	Not recognised	Fault (“grey breeches”)
Albino	Disqualifying	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“albinism”)	Not recognised	Disqualifying
Silver	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Silver”)	Not recognised	Not recognised	Disqualifying
Brown	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Brown”)	Not recognised	Not recognised	Disqualifying
Cream	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Black & Cream”)	Not recognised	Not recognised	Disqualifying
Fawn	Disqualifying	Disqualifying (“Fawn”)	Not recognised	Not recognised	Disqualifying
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“only uniform black”)	Standard (“may be completely black”)	Standard (“may be all black”)	Standard (“Groenendael - Black”)	Standard (“only uniform black”)
Bicolour	No ruling	Standard (“Black & White”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Sable	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Sable”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Agouti	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Wolfgray & Black”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Spotted	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Spotted”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Brown	Standard (“brownish colour”)	Standard (“eyes brown”)	Standard (“brown in color”)	Standard (“brown in colour”)	Standard (“brownish colour”)
Dark brown	Standard (“preferably dark”)	Standard (“preferably dark brown”)	Standard (“preferably dark”)	Standard (“preferably dark brown”)	Standard (“preferably dark”)
Light brown	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“very light ... eyes”)	No ruling	No ruling

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“nose black without spots or discolored areas”)	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“nose black”)	Standard (“black”)
Pink	Disqualifying (“strong depigmentation”)	No ruling	Fault (“lack of external pigmentation”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“strong depigmentation”)
Patterns
Butterfly nose	Fault (“traces of depigmentation”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“traces of depigmentation”)

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Fault: Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalised.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this colour or pattern.
Not recognised: The club does not accept this colour or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Belgian Shepherd's colors can change over its life.

Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGrey
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

Published standards

Back to the Belgian Shepherd guide Grooming styles for the Belgian Shepherd